Public Safety

Do We Have an Emergency Plan?

The construction of the new Route 70 Bridge over the Manasquan
River has impacted many of us, and it no doubt will continue
to for some time to come. The sooner the work is finished
the better for all of us, thus the importance of allowing
the work to be completed as quickly as possible. At Council
meetings, Route 70 has been identified an “evacuation
route” on many occasions. Some have asked, “ Evacuation
to where? How will we be notified? Do we have a plan?”

Again, I turned to Brielle’s Emergency Management Coordinator,
Councilman Tim Shaak. The following is pretty much a reprint
of the last interview when we dwelt primarily on hurricanes,
but as we all know, emergencies can take many forms. But,
be assured, Yes, we have a plan.

"In New Jersey the state police are responsible for
emergency management. Each county and each municipality are
also required by law to establish an Office of Emergency Management.
Brielle's Office of Emergency Management is led by Councilman
Tim Shaak as the Emergency Management Coordinator, and Police
Chief Michael Palmer as the Deputy Coordinator. Each of these
men has over 20 years experience in emergency services; Mr.
Shaak with the Fire Company and Chief Palmer with the Police
Department."

The Brielle Office of Emergency Management maintains and
constantly updates its emergency operation plan. This plan
is a 1,000 page document that plans for emergencies ranging
from natural disasters to terrorist attacks and everything
in between."

The interview continued:

How will residents be notified with special instructions
or told to evacuate?

"The fire Department and Police will go door to door
or street by street with a loud speaker. Also, local radio
stations will carry the alert. The Borough's electronic sign
at Borough Hall will be another means of communication."

"Ready for duty on a 24/7 basis are 40 members of the
Fire Department, 15 members of the First Aid Squad and 14
members of the Police Department."

If told to evacuate, where will residents be sent?

"The First Aid Building on Old Bridge Road has been
designated as the #1 site because of its elevation and protection
in a bowl-like setting. Brielle Elementary School has been
designated as the #2 location. However, should there be instructions
to leave the shore area, Routes 70, 34 and 195 would be likely
evacuation routes."

If told to evacuate, what should residents
take with them?

Time permitting, take important papers, cash and credit cards;
a full tank of gas.

Can we take our pets with us?

If sent to a shelter, (listed above), the answer is no. Make
advanced arrangements, where possible, to have them cared
for.

What role will the Public Works play?

"All 13 men in the department will be on call 24/7,
monitoring the water and sewer systems, keeping roads open,
working with the utilities, (lines down, power out, etc).
They will have the monumental task of clean up once the storm
or disaster has passed. After the disaster seems to be over,
the effects may last a long time."

Are we prepared?

Yes. Our Emergency Management Team is doing its part. There
are steps we as individuals can take to prepare ourselves
for times of crisis. They are listed on the Web at www.fema.gov.
One of the benefits of living in a small town like Brielle
is that our public safety personnel knows every square inch
of it and knows most of us; and most of us know most of them
and our neighbors. Feeling safer? Hope so. You should.

Do You Call 911 or 732-528-5050?

What's the Difference?

The Brielle community now has two ways to contact the police
and we'd like to help you understand

which number to call when you have a problem. You should
know that totally different dispatchers in the Monmouth County
Dispatch System answer 911 calls and 732-528-5050 because
each number has a different purpose. (Incidentally, the use
of the Monmouth County facilities has saved the Brielle taxpayers
many thousands of dollars.)

The 911 System was established to allow a simple yet effective
means to obtain emergency assistance. The 911 system should
be used only in an emergency such as fire or first aid calls,
automobile accidents, or any event involving serious injuries.
The dispatcher will ask your name, location and nature of
the emergency and talk you through the situation while they
dispatch a police officer and, if necessary, the fire department
and/or the first aid squad.

Our police officers are the 911 first responders and usually
respond in less than a minute after receiving a call. They
have oxygen, defibrillators and fire extinguishers with them
to provide immediate assistance until additional responders
arrive. Many of our officers are also EMT trained.

In a non-emergency call the police on 732-528-5050. Some
examples of non-emergencies would be suspicious vehicles or
people in your neighbor hood, door-to-door solicitor's without
a Brielle Solicitor's Permit, people apparently asleep on
a lawn, downed trees, or non-functioning traffic signals.

The dispatchers will answer your call by saying, "Brielle
Police". They will ask for your name and address and
the nature of the problem. It is important that you are able
to provide as much information as possible. Automobile descriptions,
license plate numbers, the number of people involved and their
descriptions are all important. The dispatcher will send an
officer as quickly as possible. In rare cases, the police
may be involved in more serious incidents and may not be able
to respond immediately. They will, however, respond as quickly
as possible.

Our Brielle Police Department prides itself in being a Community
Policing Agency that provides many community services some
of which the citizens may not be fully aware. You have undoubtedly
heard about our D.A.R.E. program in both the fifth and eighth
grades, but did you know that our officers also speak to community
groups about personal and home safety as well as infant seat
training for the proper use and installation of infant seats
in automobiles? They also provide residential security surveys
and firearm safety lessons when requested. During Brielle
Day, you may have seen our officers utilizing the Identikit
program, which involves voluntary fingerprinting and photos
of children for parents to keep in their files in case they
are ever needed.

Due to the complexity of modern law enforcement, all of our
officers have a college degree and receive continuous training
in all aspects of police work and public safety. Today, our
Brielle Police Department is considered one of the finest
in Monmouth County.

Please don't hesitate to call the police. We assure you,
our officers will much rather be called to prevent a problem
before it happens than to investigate an incident afterward.

911 OR 5050 – Still Confused?

Dial 911 for emergency assistance only: to report a fire,
an accident, a burglary, an assault in progress or any serious
crime, or to request emergency medical service. Be clear and
concise with accurate information when you call.

Dial 732-528-5050 for a non-emergency situation: to speak
with a Brielle Officer, to request information, to report
stolen property or a lost pet, to report suspicious behavior
or any matter you feel should be brought to the attention
of our Police Department. Do not dial 911 for any of these
situations.

If you have a matter or situation you’d like to discuss
relative to the Police Department, Chief Michael Palmer will
be happy to take your call. Dial 732-528-5050 and ask to speak
to the chief.

Calls for both emergency and non-emergency assistance go
through the Monmouth County Dispatch System. This shared service
saves the Borough close to $200,000 a year.

Bicycle Safety

School is in session! Children will be riding their bikes
and skateboards for transportation. That's a good thing. Let's
make sure they know the rules of the road:

Keep to the right side of the road

Obey traffic signals, (they're not just for cars)

Keep lights and reflectors in working order

Use hand signals when turning

One person on a bike, unless a tandem

Be in control at all times

For your safety

Avoid biking when roads are slippery

Travel single file

Be alert and courteous

Use reflective markings on your clothing and bike

WEAR YOUR HELMET

And motorists, please slow down and be alert - children
often aren't paying attention while having fun.

Congratulations New CERT Members

A group of 14 residents recently completed the Borough of
Brielle's CERT training. This group was the third class to
complete the training, bringing Brielle's CERT team to an
impressive total of 65 members.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps
train people to be better prepared to respond to an emergency
situations in their communities. When emergencies occur, CERT
members can give critical support to first responders, provide
immediate assistance to victims and organize spontaneous volunteers
at a disaster site. CERT members can also help improve the
safety of the community.

The CERT program is taught by Councilman Tim Shaak and Sgt.
Tom McWilliams of the Brielle Police Department. Both of these
men have completed the CERT Train-the-Trainer course conducted
by the New Jersey State Police. CERT training includes disaster
preparedness, disaster fire suppression, basic disaster medical
operations, and light search and rescue operations.

Over the next two years, the CERT program aims to double
the number of participants, with over 400,000 individuals
completing the 20 plus hours of training nation wide. Brielle
boasts one of the largest CERTs in Monmouth County. Our team
has been one of the most active in the state; they have appeared
on national television, appeared in several public service
announcements and have received numerous accolades from the
New Jersey State Police.

How Prepared Are We in Brielle?

In the wake of the recent hurricanes in the Gulf region and
the horrific and heart-wrenching images we saw days on end,
you may wonder just HOW PREPARED ARE WE here in Brielle? I
asked Councilman Tim Shaak, Emergency Management Coordinator.
This is his reply.

"In New Jersey the state police are responsible for
emergency management. Each county and each municipality
are also required by law to establish an Office of Emergency
Management. Brielle's Office of Emergency Management is
led by Councilman Tim Shaak as the Emergency Management
Coordinator, and Police Chief Michael Palmer as the Deputy
Coordinator. Each of these men has over 20 years experience
in emergency services; Mr. shaak with the Fire Company and
Chief Palmer with the Police Department."

The Brielle Office of Emergency Management maintains and
constantly updates its emergency operation plan. This plan
is a 1,000 page document that plans for emergencies ranging
from natural disasters to terrorist attacks and everything
in between."

The interview continued:

How will residents be notified with special
instructions or told to evacuate?

"The fire Department and Police will go door to door
or street by street with a loud speaker. Also, local radio
stations will carry the alert."

"Ready for duty on a 24/7 basis are 40 members of the
Fire Department, 15 members of the First Aid Squad and 14
members of the Police Department."

If told to evacuate, where will residents
be sent?

"The First Aid Building on Oldbridge Road has been designated
as the #1 site because of its elevation and protection in
a bowl-like setting. Brielle Elementary School has been designated
as the #2 location."

If told to evacuate, what should residents
take with them?

Time permitting, take important papers, cash and credit cards;
a full tank of gas.

Can we take our pets with us?

If sent to a shelter, (listed above), the answer is no. Make
advanced arrangements, where possible, to have them cared
for.

What role will the Public Works play?

"All 13 men in the department will be on call 24/7,
monitoring the water and sewer systems, keeping roads open,
working with the utilities, (lines down, power out, etc).
They will have the monumental task of clean up once the storm
or disaster has passed. After the disaster seems to be over,
the effects may last a long time."

Are we prepared? Our Emergency management Team is doing its
part. There are steps we can take to prepare ourselves for
times of crisis. One of the benefits of living in a small
town like Brielle is that our public safety personnel knows
every square inch of it and they know most of us; and most
of us know most of them and our neighbors. feeling safer?
Hope so.

Hurricane Safety

The following information has been prepared by Police Chief
Michael Palmer and Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Shaak.

Hurricane Watch: when a hurricane becomes a threat to coastal
areas.

Hurricane Warning: when a hurricane has winds of 74 miles
an hour or higher, or a combination of dangerously high water
and very rough seas and is expected in a specific coastal
area within 24 hours.

Preparation for a hurricane:

Keep tuned to a local radio or television station for
the latest weather service advisories as well as special
instructions from your local officials.

Check battery powered equipment. Your battery operated
radio could be your only source of information, and flashlights
will be needed if utility services are interrupted.

Keep your car fueled should evacuation be necessary. Service
stations may be inoperable after the storm strikes.

Store drinking water in clean bathtubs, jugs, bottles
and cooking pots since your town's water system may be contaminated
or damaged by the storm.

Board up windows or protect them with shutters or tape.
Although tape may not keep a window from breaking, it is
an effective way of preventing flying glass.

Moor your boat securely before the storm arrives, or move
it to a designated safe area.

During the hurricane remain indoors if you live inland
and away from low lying areas. However, if you are advised
by your local officials to evacuate, DO SO IMMEDIATELY.
You will be directed to a shelter provided for your safety.

Keep your radio on and listen to information regarding
the location of the "eye" of the hurricane. If
the center of the storm passes directly overhead there will
be a lull in the wind, lasting from a few minutes to an
hour or more, and then the other side of the "eye"
will move in with the winds rapidly returning to hurricane
force and will come in the opposite direction.

After the storm, beware of dangerous dangling wires and
hazardous road conditions. If power has been shut off, check
refrigerated food for spoilage and be suspicious of water
that might be contaminated.

If you have any questions regarding hurricane safety or the
Emergency Management Program in Brielle, please contact Police
Chief Michael Palmer at 732-528-5050 or Councilman Tim Shaak
at 732-528-1533.

Taking Steps to Prepare for Disaster

Although the borough's emergency management team continually
works to make the residents safer, there are certain steps
each resident can take to make their homes safer and to help
themselves in time of crisis. These include:

Check and change the batteries in your smoke alarms and
replace all alarms that are more then 10 years old.

Make sure you know where your local fire department, police
station and hospital are and post a list of emergency phone
numbers posted near all the telephones in your home.

Organize and practice a family fire drill. Make sure your
children know what your smoke detector sounds like and what
to do if it goes off when they are sleeping.

Locate the utility mains for your home and be sure you
know how to turn them off manually; gas, electricity, and
water.

Create an emergency plan for your household, including
your pets. Decide where your family will meet if a disaster
does happen: Right outside your home in case of a sudden
emergency, like a fire and outside your neighborhood in
case you can't return home. Ask an out of town friend to
be your "family contact to relay messages.

Prepare a three day disaster supply kit, complete with
flashlights, batteries, blankets, and an emergency supply
of water and food, (and pet food).

Check the expiration dates of all over-the-counter medications-discard
all that are expired and replace any that are routinely
needed.

Make sure all cleaning products and dangerous objects
are out of children's reach.

Plan to sign up for a first aid training course. Contact
the Brielle Fist Aid Squad for the next course offering.

Join the Brielle CERT for additional training. Contact
Tim Shaak at 732-528-7666 or 732-528-1533 for details.

Visit with your neighbors and discuss how you would handle
a disaster in your area. Talk to neighbors with special
needs and help them become safer too!

If you would like more information; or if you have additional
questions regarding the Office of Emergency Management, please
contact either Councilman Tim Shaak or Chief Michael Palmer.

Brielle
OEM Receives Emergency Trailer

The Borough of Brielle recently was given a Homeland Security/CERT
trailer by the New Jersey State Police. The trailer was one
of only two awarded to Monmouth County communities; a total
of twenty trailers were awarded statewide.

The trailer contains a variety of emergency and rescue equipment
needed during a disaster. Some of the equipment include: emergency
generator, portable lights, first aid equipment, backboards,
shovels, emergency shelter, blankets, traffic cones, flashlights
and triage equipment. The total value of the trailer and equipment
is $7500. In addition, the Borough received a State grant
for $1,270.89 for shelving and additional supplies.

The New Jersey State Police explained at a press conference
held this summer that the reason Brielle was selected was
two-fold. First, geographically it made sense to place this
type of equipment in Southeastern Monmouth County, (the other
one was placed in Middletown). And second, and more importantly,
was Brielle's commitment to the CERT program, and its participation
on several occasions when Brielle CERT was activated to assist
local authorities.

Do You Call 911 or 732-528-5050?

What's the Difference?

The Brielle community now has two ways to contact the police
and we'd like to help you understand

which number to call when you have a problem. You should
know that totally different dispatchers in the Monmouth County
Dispatch System answer 911 calls and 732-528-5050 because
each number has a different purpose. (Incidentally, the use
of the Monmouth County facilities has saved the Brielle taxpayers
many thousands of dollars.)

The 911 System was established to allow a simple yet effective
means to obtain emergency assistance. The 911 system should
be used only in an emergency such as fire or first aid calls,
automobile accidents, or any event involving serious injuries.
The dispatcher will ask your name, location and nature of
the emergency and talk you through the situation while they
dispatch a police officer and, if necessary, the fire department
and/or the first aid squad.

Our police officers are the 911 first responders and usually
respond in less than a minute after receiving a call. They
have oxygen, defibrillators and fire extinguishers with them
to provide immediate assistance until additional responders
arrive. Many of our officers are also EMT trained.

In a non-emergency call the police on 732-528-5050. Some
examples of non-emergencies would be suspicious vehicles or
people in your neighbor hood, door-to-door solicitor's without
a Brielle Solicitor's Permit, people apparently asleep on
a lawn, downed trees, or non-functioning traffic signals.

The dispatchers will answer your call by saying, "Brielle
Police". They will ask for your name and address and
the nature of the problem. It is important that you are able
to provide as much information as possible. Automobile descriptions,
license plate numbers, the number of people involved and their
descriptions are all important. The dispatcher will send an
officer as quickly as possible. In rare cases, the police
may be involved in more serious incidents and may not be able
to respond immediately. They will, however, respond as quickly
as possible.

Our Brielle Police Department prides itself in being a Community
Policing Agency that provides many community services some
of which the citizens may not be fully aware. You have undoubtedly
heard about our D.A.R.E. program in both the fifth and eighth
grades, but did you know that our officers also speak to community
groups about personal and home safety as well as infant seat
training for the proper use and installation of infant seats
in automobiles? They also provide residential security surveys
and firearm safety lessons when requested. During Brielle
Day, you may have seen our officers utilizing the Identikit
program, which involves voluntary fingerprinting and photos
of children for parents to keep in their files in case they
are ever needed.

Due to the complexity of modern law enforcement, all of our
officers have a college degree and receive continuous training
in all aspects of police work and public safety. Today, our
Brielle Police Department is considered one of the finest
in Monmouth County.

Please don't hesitate to call the police. We assure you,
our officers will much rather be called to prevent a problem
before it happens than to investigate an incident afterward.

Safety Tips from your Police Department

NEVER LEAVE A DOOR KEY UNDER THE DOOR MAT. THIS IS THE
FIRST PLACE A BURGLAR LOOKS.

NEVER LEAVE A NOTE ON THE DOOR ANNOUNCING YOU'RE NOT HOME.

NEVER LEAVE A MESSAGE ON YOUR ANSWERING MACHINE STATING
THAT YOU ARE NOT HOME. HAVE THE MESSAGE STATE THAT YOU CANNOT
COME TO THE PHONE AT THIS TIME.

MAKE SURE DEADBOLT TYPE LOCKS ARE INSTALLED AND USED ON
ALL OUTSIDE DOORS.

USE EXTERIOR LIGHTING TO ILLUMINATE ALL EXTERIOR ENTRIES.

LOCK AND PIN (IF POSSIBLE) ALL FIRST FLOOR WINDOWS.

TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS WHEN YOU ARE LEAVING ON VACATION.
THEY ARE THE EYES AND EARS OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

IF YOU ARE GOING ON VACATION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF
TIME, HAVE A NEIGHBOR OR FRIEND PICK UP YOUR MAIL AND NEWSPAPERS.
YOU CAN ALSO HAVE YOUR MAIL STOPPED AT THE POST OFFICE AND
TELL YOUR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY PERSON. THEY WILL HOLD YOUR
PAPERS UNTIL YOU RETURN.

USE AN INTERIOR LIGHT TIMER IN YOUR HOME SO THAT LIGHTS
AND RADIOS WILL COME ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE NIGHT.
THIS WILL GIVE THE ILLUSION THAT SOMEONE MIGHT BE HOME.

IF YOUR HOME DOES HAVE AN ALARM, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN
EMERGENCY CONTACT PERSON WHO CAN GAIN ACCESS INTO YOUR HOME.

LET THE POLICE DEPARTMENT KNOW WHEN YOU ARE LEAVING, WHERE
YOU ARE STAYING AND HOW TO CONTACT YOU IF NEED BE. ALSO
TELL THEM WHICH VEHICLES WILL BE IN YOUR DRIVEWAY

Guard Against Attack in and Around Your Car

Park in well lit areas

Safety in numbers - Walk with others

Have your keys ready

As you approach your car, look underneath it, if possible

Look around your car for people sitting in cars next to
yours

Look inside before opening your door

Carry your pocketbook tucked in at your side with flap
facing in, if it is that style

Carry a pepper gas container, only if you are comfortable
with it. (It can be used against you)

At the very least, carry a whistle or sound device

Don't carry alot of cash or wear alot of jewelry - it
makes you a target

Take pictures of your jewelry and mark your valuables

Keep a list of credit card numbers

When Driving Home

Make sure your family knows your usual route

Let someone know if you have any other stops to make

If you feel you are being followed, DON'T drive home.
Drive to a police department or a store with a phone and
call police

Honk your horn and flash your lights

Try to get a vehicle description and plate number

If you break down, turn your flashers on and raise your
hood if you can

If someone stops to help, DON'T get out of your car. Crack
your window slightly to talk

Ask them to stop at a phone and call for help

Learn how to change a tire

At Work

Place pocketbooks and other valuables out of sight

If a robbery occurs - Give it up. Nothing is worth your
life

Get a good description. Call police as soon as robber
leaves

Don't touch anything he or she may have touched

Never leave back doors open

If you have to empty garbage into a dumpster after dark,
don't do it alone

If a customer looks like he/she is getting out of control,
have a co-worker call the police

Use common sense and rely on your instincts

GOING AWAY?

Let our Police Department know. Pick up a form detailing
where you'll be, whom to contact in case of emergency, what
vehicles will remain on your property. Don't forget to stop
mail and newspaper deliveries. Have a neighbor collect any
unexpected deliveries from your property. Leave no tell-tale
signs that you are away. The "Closed Home" form
can also be accessed and filled out online on the Brielle
Police web page. After filling out the form, print it out
and drop it off at the Brielle Police Station.